The effects of geometrical optics? tasks based on inquiy-based instruction in cooperative learning environment

The Effects of Geometrical Optics? Tasks Based on Inquiy-Based Instruction in Cooperative Learning EnvironmentThe purpose of this project is to investigate the effects of inquiry-based teaching on prospective science teachers? scientific process skills and conceptual change.In the research, pre-test and post-test experimental model with a control group was used. Quasi-experimental model was followed on the students for designing the control and experimental groups. The participants of the research were consisted of prospective science teachers (N=54) who were reading at programme of Science Education in a state university, Physics III course during 2008-2009 academic year. (Experimental group N=25, control group N=29).Before and after the experimental processes; Scientific Process Skills Scale and Three-Tier Geometric Optic Conception Scale were applied on the both groups. During the experimental processes, together with the cooperative learning techniques, activities related to the geometrical optic subjects prepared according to inquiry-based learning tasks were applied on the experimental group, whereas traditional teaching techniques (lecture, question and answer, discussion) were applied on the control group.In the research, ?Scientific Process Skills Scale? and ?Three-Tier Geometric Optic Conception Scale? which were developed by the researcher have been used in order to determine the improvements in scientific process skills and conceptual change of the prospective science teachers. SPSS 13.0 statistical program was used for the analysis.At the end of the research, science process skills and conceptual change of the prospective science teachers who were included in the experimental group to which the inquiry-based learning approaches were used in were proven to be significantly developed compared to those students included in the control group. It can be said that the experimental group which uses inquiry-based learning approaches realizes more efective and efficient learning than the control group which applies traditional teaching.